ON Tuesday, Nov. 13, the National Food Authority (NFA) 7 will launch the suggested retail price (SRP) of rice in Central Visayas.
The SRP of rice was already launched in Metro Manila and the Greater Manila Area and Regions 8 and 10.
But NFA 7 Director Fernando Nuñez said he still needs to meet with rice retailers to make sure they will comply with the new SRP considering the region is not rice-producing.
Based on the official Facebook page of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, the prices of rice will range from P39 to P47 per kilo.
For a regular milled (local) and well-milled rice (imported), the SRP is P39 per kilo. For an imported premium rice, the SRP is P43 per kilo. The SRP for a local well-milled rice is P44, while the SRP for a local premium rice is P47 kilo.
The NFA will also do away with rice brands like “Sinandomeng,” “Super Angelica” or “Double Diamond as these, according to Piñol, only confuse consumers.
Nuñez said they will launch seven kinds of rice, including local and imported special rice.
He said that aside from his meeting with rice retailers, he will also meet with officials of DA and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Rice retailers who do not comply with the SRP will be issued a written warning for the first offense. For a second offense, a prison sentence of four months up to four years and a fine of P2,000 up to P1 million await them.
The NHA will also cancel their license to sell. (From HBL of Superbalita Cebu)